See our full list of Where to Go in 2015.
It’s difficult to design a museum suitable for kids and adults but Adler managed it. Kids will love the play area known as Planet Explorers. They can play space operator with space rovers and rocket launch simulators, peer through microscopes and crawl through caves and tunnels. Adults will love the exhibit of maps and intricate machines known as “Planetary Machines” showing ancient views and tracking of the cosmos (unfortunately ending on October 6), the Solar System exhibit and the Cyberspace room.
The Adler is housed in a large semicircular stone building right on the banks of Lake Michigan with giant glass windows on both floors and lovely views across the lake. They have an enormous telescope and a couple of star theatres with daily shows featuring space travel, night sky vistas and interplanetary relationships. Go by yourself, bring your kids, it’s a great place for visitors of any age.

Not only is the Adler Planetarium a super-cool place in general, but it also boasts one of the best skyline views of the city. You can camp out in the grass or sit on the endless steps that follow the lakefront in this incredible spot. You get an amazing, sweeping view of the whole skyline, from the Willis Tower, all the way to Navy Pier. This is a great place to take out-of-town visitors at any time of day, or a place to have a picnic on a warm summer day.